During the Vietnam War, 241 Congressional Medals of Honor were
awarded. The First Cavalry Division had 25 recipients. These 25 recipients
reflect the highest amount of Medals of Honor awarded to any single Army unit during the
war. The following recounting concerns one of those recipients and the men who died or
were wounded during this firefight.

The information for the following recounting was compiled from the Medal of Honor
Citation for Lt. Leisy and the daily Battalion Journal for the 1st Battalion
8th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division.

The morning of December 2, 1969 was like any typical morning for an infantry
company in the 8th Cavalry. Troops were up at the crack of dawn preparing
breakfast and retrieving their claymores and trip flares that had been set out the
previous evening. By 7:10 A.M. Bravo Company was on the move in a search and destroy
mission in the Phuoc Long province, Republic of Vietnam.

Later that afternoon, Bravo Company sent the 2nd Platoon out on a
recon mission. The men of the 2nd squad discovered a bunker complex that was
still under construction. The squad proceeded North into the area where they engaged an
unknown size enemy force to their Northwest. An immediate exchange of automatic small arms
fire resulted in the deaths of two American soldiers.

2nd Platoon, lead by 2nd Lt. Leisy, along with the
remainder of Bravo Company rushed to the contact area in an attempt to reinforce the 2nd
squad in their firefight. As 2nd Platoon approached the contact area, they came
under intense enemy fire to their front and both flanks. Lt. Leisy moved from position to
position deploying his men to effectively engage the enemy. Lt. Leisy had moved to the
front with his radio operator when he spotted an enemy sniper in a tree firing a Rocket
Propelled Grenade (RPG) at their position. Unhesitatingly he moved in front of the radio
operator, protecting him and the radio. He took the full blast from the RPG, saving the
life of the radio operator. Lt. Leisy continued to direct his platoon fire despite his
mortal wounds. Lt. Leisy refused medical treatment until the most seriously wounded
soldiers around him were treated. His display of extraordinary courage and exemplary
devotion to duty provided the inspiration and leadership that enabled his platoon to
successfully withdraw without further casualties.

Bravo Company had also come under heavy fire from machine guns and B-40 rockets
(RPGs). The Company had deployed two air strikes and artillery fire against the
enemys positions. It became apparent that the company would not be able to join up
with the 2nd Platoon. It was up to the men of the 2nd Platoon and
the 2nd squad to make their way back to the company. The 2nd squad was forced
to leave behind the two troopers who were killed during the initial firefight along with
equipment including a radio and an M-60 machine gun. All the men from 2nd
Platoon were finally able to rejoin Bravo Company by 5:58 P.M. The firefight continued on
until about 6:15 P.M. when the firing broke off as darkness approached.

Flareships where called in to provid illumination for Bravo Company to dig in
and prepare an LZ for a Medevac helicopter. As Medevac 8 came on the scene and started to
load the wounded, enemy snipers opened fire on the helicopter. Before Medevac 8 broke for
Quoin Loi, it was struck 4 times and the medic was wounded. Medevac 13 arrived to
transport the remaining 5 wounded soldiers.

The following morning of December 3, 1969, Bravo Company swept the contact area
and recovered the bodies of the fallen soldiers along with the radio and the M-60 machine
gun. Neither the fallen soldiers or the equipment were disturbed by the enemy.

Later on that afternoon of December 3rd, five men were wounded by a
booby trap made from a B-40 rocket.

Soldiers who were medevaced out on December 2, 1969

Soldiers who were medevaced out on December 3, 1969

1st Lt. Guidroz

SGT Weldon

SP4 Yingling

PFC Adams

PFC Hacker

PFC Moore

Kit Carson Scout  Chung

On December 5, 1969, Intelligence advised Battalion that one of their agents
had reported that a firefight with units of the 1st Cavalry Division on
December 2, 1969 were in contact with an NVA force of 150 men who were armed with
AK-47s, B-40 rockets and (4) 82-mortors. There were 24 NVA soldiers who died in the
action and another 18 soldiers were wound and carried to an NVA Hospital.